Institute for Career Development
Full Job Description
POSITION: Navigator and Youth Counselor
REPORTS TO: Manager, Youth Transition Services
LOCATION: Discovery HS, 2780 Reservoir Ave. Bronx, New York 10468
POSITION TYPE: Full-time
SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
SALARY: Competitive salary and benefits package based on experience
ORGANIZATIONS:
The Institute for Career Development (ICD) is a long-established, highly regarded not-for-profit career development organization based in New York City. ICD provides school transition services and vocational assessment, training, and job placement services—at no cost—to help youth and adults with disabilities secure greater economic mobility. Our vision is a world where all people feel welcome, included, and valued in the workplace.
Discovery High School’s mission is to prepare students for the rigor of college and life after high school. Students learn how to learn, how to think about their own thinking, and how to acquire the necessary skills they will need to be successful in the world of tomorrow.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Navigator and Youth Counselor (Navigator) serves as a trusted resource and shepherd for youth with disabilities as they move from high school to adult life. Navigators help students determine and identify their post-high school goals and support them in working on skill gaps that might stand in their way. Navigators enable students to discover and lean into their strengths, while developing confidence and self-advocacy skills necessary to succeed beyond high school. To implement these activities, Navigators will meet with youth at least once a month, more often as required. Navigators will also work to engage parents and guardians to help build a strong network of social support for youth. Navigators are also responsible for linking youth to other services as appropriate, including ICD’s own counseling and vocational training programs, as well as trusted partner organizations that can provide services which ICD is not best positioned to offer in-house. Finally, Navigators will also be responsible for building relationships with employer partners to coordinate student work experiences, internships, and employment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Intake and Assessment Services
Conduct client intake and evaluations, observe and record behavior patterns, administer and interpret tests and work samples, and translate complex vocational data into youth appropriate terms.
Identify potential challenges to specific types of employment and develop the rationale for reasonable work accommodations. Assess and implement evaluation modifications to obtain the most accurate assessment of each client’s reading, writing, math skills, and physical abilities.
Help youth with disabilities and their families to better understand their options and make choices to support youth values, needs, and abilities and provide problem solving support when needed.
Career Counseling and Youth Transition Services
Assess and develop the work readiness skills of each program participant; provide job exploration counseling and instruction in self-advocacy; facilitate soft skills training groups toward attainment of pre-employment competencies; and conduct activities to enhance motivation and improve communication skills.
Plan and conduct workshops and trainings, including but not limited to job readiness, interviewing and job seeking, work-related life skills, and job support groups.
Provide support with daily living issues such as transportation and mobility as well as emotional support, crisis management, home visits, and transitioning to post-secondary settings.
Perform comprehensive and systematic collection, archiving, and use of data and information, including demographics, intervention tracking, and reporting.
Establish professional boundaries and ethical behavior within the case management relationship.
Develop internship opportunities that meet the needs of participants by establishing affiliation agreements with local businesses visit internship/employment sites to observe and consult with site supervisors/contacts.
Maintain accurate time and attendance records for all participants.
Parent Engagement
Understand and respond to unique family dynamics, including provision of culturally responsive services and supports; youth and family preferences; and relationships of individual family members.
Resource and Referral Development
Act as liaison with participant referral sources and other collaterals including case managers, treatment providers, internship site supervisors, and employers.
Develop knowledge of and ability to navigate across various systems that intersect the lives of youth and family members, including but not limited to schools and transition; workforce development; mental health; health insurance; various disabilities; advocacy; entitlement programs; and others.
Develop, cultivate, maintain, and expand a network of community providers to aid in information and referral in response to the needs of youth and families being served.
Understand referral requirements of state and local agencies and schools, including brokering meaningful community partnerships, promotion of referrals, and communication across invested stakeholders.
Other duties as required
TECHNICAL SKILLS: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including use of Word and Excel
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree in education, behavioral, social, health or mental health, public health/administration, family and youth counseling, social work, or a related field.
Minimum of one year of experience conducting case management-related activities.
Demonstrated excellence in follow-through with hard-to-reach populations.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
Highly organized, detail oriented multi-tasker with demonstrated experience working as a highly effective member of a multidisciplinary team.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or a related field.
Experience in transition planning for youth with disabilities.
Experience with self-determination and person-centered planning.
Experience with motivational interviewing.
Experience in special education, vocational rehabilitation, employment, transition and/or disability benefits field.
Established network and knowledge of local community service providers and/or non-profit agencies.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS: Bilingual in English and Spanish is required. ASL is helpful.
BENEFITS:
ICD offers a comprehensive benefits package including health and dental insurance, AFLAC options, 401k retirement plan with employer contribution, and generous paid time off.
The Institute for Career Development is an advocate for diversity in the workplace. All candidates will benefit from equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race; color; age; religion; pregnancy; sex; sexual orientation; disability; gender identity; gender expression; national origin; genetic information; Veteran status; marital status; or prior protected activity.
Please email a resume and cover letter with salary requirements to HR@icdnyc.org with a subject of “Navigator and Youth Counselor.”
